Day 26 | Theodore Roosevelt NP, South unit

We won’t have network for most of the day so I want to start today’s blog while I still have a network. Then I can add to it as the day goes on.

We decided to have breakfast in the park again. The beauty of carrying your house around with you is that you also have everything with you. We stopped at the first vista point where we made blueberry pancakes and bacon. We had the place to ourselves for a good 30 minutes.

The loop through the park is closed at one end which requires doubling back. The only animals we have seen where a mule deer doe and her twins and 2 bison… both early in the morning… and prairie dogs. The loop therfore was scenic only.

We were badly needing a walk. What with the driving yesterday and the heat in the middle of the day, we haven’t done as much as we should. We started along Paddock Creek Trail ( the creek bed is dry) but it was dusty and out in the open. By the time we had walked a mile and a half it was getting hot again so we turned back.

We walked through several prairie dog towns…these little animals are so cute but I bet they are a nuisance to the ranchers with their deep holes and tunnels. They sent out squeaking alarms as we walked by. I wonder where they get water as they don’t seem to wander far.

Prairie Dog

Trying to capture the sensation of the land formations is difficult. The lighting is harsh and it’s dry and lacking in contrast.

Time to talk about these fascinating little creatures.

Src – Wikipedia

Prairie dogs (genus Cynomys) are herbivorous burrowing rodents native to the grasslands of North America. The five species are: black-tailed, white-tailed, Gunnison’s, Utah, and Mexican prairie dogs.They are a type of ground squirrel, found in North America.

Prairie dogs are considered a keystone species with their mounds often being used by other species. Their mound-building encourages grass development and renewal of topsoil, with rich mineral, and nutrient renewal in the soil which can be crucial for soil quality and agriculture. They are extremely important in the foodchain, being important to the diet of many animals such as the black-footed ferret, swift fox, golden eagle, red tailed hawk, American badger, and coyote. Other species, such as the golden-mantled ground squirrel, mountain plover, and the burrowing owl, also rely on prairie dog burrows for nesting areas. Grazing species, such as plains bison, pronghorn, and mule deer have shown a proclivity for grazing on the same land used by prairie dogs. Prairie dogs have some of the most complex systems of communication and social structures in the animal kingdom.

The prairie dog habitat has been affected by direct removal by farmers, as well as the more obvious encroachment of urban development, which has greatly reduced their populations. The removal of prairie dogs “causes undesirable spread of brush”, the costs of which to livestock range and soil quality often outweighs the benefits of removal. Other threats include disease. The prairie dog is protected in many areas to maintain local populations and ensure natural ecosystems and that they are not harmed

The striations are very interesting and erosion resulted in buttes and pyramidal shaped formations.

We have done the loop several times now and have settled in the Cottonwood picnic area for lunch amongst the trees. Since our campsite is an open field we may spend part of the afternoon here in the shade with a bit of a breeze. It’s over 90F again. I asked the park ranger at our campsite if this heat was normal for this time of year. It isn’t and they gave had only half the amount of the usual rainfall.

Back at camp after stopping in Medora for a network we have cleaned the van, filled it with water, had showers and no relaxing with a cold drink.

Dinner music is soft jazz in honor of my father-in-law.